Chess Enthusiast, Netanyahu Closely Following Championship

PM is among those following the 12th game of the Chess World Championships between Boris Gelfand and India`s Anand.

By Rachel Hirshfeld

First Publish: 5/29/2012, 2:06 PM

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, an amateur chess player and an enthusiast of the game, keenly followed the 12th game of the World Championships between his countryman Boris Gelfand and India’s defending champion Viswanathan Anand, taking place in Moscow.

The game was broadcast on a giant screen in a room adjacent to the Prime Minister`s office where Netanyahu watched it between meetings. He spoke about the moves of the game with former minister and the current Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Natan Sharansky, who is a very skilled chess player himself.

Israelis gathered to watch the exciting game on large screens throughout the country.

The two players are currently tied at 6-6 points after 12 games. The champion will be decided in the tie-breakers.

Netanyahu and Sharansky played a game against Gelfand in March 2010. The game is said to have ended in a draw.